Hydrangea plant named &#39;BC7.3&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hydrangea macrophylla  (Thunb.) named “ originated as a controlled cross between varieties. The cultivar ‘BC7.3’ can be blue or red depending on the acidity of the soil and the presence of aluminum. The variety ‘BC7.3’ has relatively compact, attractive inflorescences with relatively small sepalous florets, distinct sepal pigmentation and good commercial characteristics. When grown in the presence of aluminum, the upperside of the sepals is primarily R.H.S. 94 A (violet-blue group) and 86 B (violet group), the underside of the sepals is R.H.S. 93 D (violet-blue group) and 86 C violet group).

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION

Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) ‘BC7.3’

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘BC7.3’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of the Saxifragaceae family. The botanical name of the plant is Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) ‘BC7.3’.

The new cultivar originated as a seedling from a controlled cross between a commercial variety known as ‘Venedig’ to the inventor which may be the subject of U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,928 and registered as ‘Venice Raven’. ‘Venedig’ was the seed parent and the unpatented variety ‘LK49’ was the pollen parent. ‘K49’ is relatively compact plant with wiry stems, relatively small leaves, relatively small sepalous florets, and inflorescences that are resistant to being damaged by conditions in commercial coolers.

The variety ‘BC7.3’ has compact, attractive inflorescences with relatively small sepalous florets, attractive sepal pigmentation and good commercial characteristics. The variety ‘BC7.3’ has pigmented sepals, and is preferably grown in soil conditions treated with aluminum to produce blue pigmentation. The color of the sepals changes as the plant ages. Below is a table comparing the new variety to similar varieties. Blooms approximately 1 month earlier than similar varieties grown under commercial conditions for sale as a decorative potted plant. The new variety is generally taller than its parents and the stems need to be staked. ‘Venedig’ and the new variety have similarly sized inflorescences.

TABLE 1 Commerical variety ‘Venedig’ Currently which Patent U.S. may be U.S. Pending Plant Plant New Variety Patent Patent Variety ‘BC6.1’ 18,593 10,928 ‘BC7.3’ 13/135,028 ‘True Blue’ ‘Venice Raven’ Leaf 9 cm × 15 cm 12 cm wide × Unknown 9 cm wide × size 15 cm long 15 cm long- observed controls grown alongside new variety Plant 16″ in 6″ pot. 15″ in 6″ pot. Unknown 12″ in 6″ pot- height observed controls grown alongside new variety. Stem Stems are Stems are Strong Strong- strength strong but strong but observed benefit from benefit from controls being staked. being staked. grown alongside new variety Sepal Upper side of Upper side of Both sides of Upper side of Pigmen- sepals is R.H.S. sepals is R.H.S. sepalsa are sepals is tation 94 A (violet- 86 A (violet R.H.S. 100 D R.H.S. 84 A (violet group). blue group) to group); Under (blue group). Under 86 B (violet side of sepals is side of group); Under R.H.S. 88 D sepals is side of sepals is (violet group) R.H.S. 85 A R.H.S. 93 D (violet group) (violet group) observed to 86 C (violet controls group). grown alongside new variety. Sepalous 50 mm 60 mm to 50 mm to 70 mm- Floret 70 mm 60 mm observed Size controls grown alongside new variety

The new cultivar ‘BC7.3’ has been successfully asexually reproduced under controlled environmental conditions at a nursery in Half Moon Bay, Calif. under the direction of the inventor with its distinguishing characteristics remaining stable.

Asexual reproduction was first accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initially selected plant. Examination of asexually reproduced, successive generations grown in Half Moon Bay, Calif. show that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for ‘BC7.3’ remains firmly fixed through.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings consist of color photographs that show the typical plant form, including the inflorescence, foliage, and sepals.

FIG. 1 is a view of the entire plant showing its form, growth habit, dark green foliage, inflorescence, and the color of its sepals.

FIG. 2 is a view of the entire plant showing its form, growth habit, dark green foliage, inflorescence, and the color of its sepals.

FIG. 3 is a close-up view of the adaxial surface of a mature leaf.

FIG. 4 is a close-up view of the base of the stem.

FIG. 5 is a close-up view of the upper side of a panicle of the new variety.

FIG. 6 is a close-up view of the center of a panicle of the new variety.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

The plants shown in the figures are approximately 51 weeks old. The plant started out as cuttings, taken from the stem of a grown plant. The cuttings were placed in a pot and the soil was periodically treated with aluminum to produce blue pigmentation. The plant was pinched early to promote lateral branches.

‘BC7.3’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and day length. Color determinations were made with The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.) Colour Chart, in association with the Flower Council of Holland, located in Lieden.

-   The plant:     -   -   Origin.—Controlled cross. The new cultivar originated as a             seedling from a controlled cross between the commercial             variety known to the inventor as ‘Venedig’ and which may be             ‘Venice Raven’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,928, which was the             seed parent and the unpatented variety ‘LK49’ which was the             pollen parent.         -   Form.—Upright, compact shrub. A typical plant with a mature             inflorescence that is ready for sale is approximately 16″             high and has a diameter of 16″ when grown in a 6″ pot with             appropriate soil amendments. Plants typically have 3 to 4             stems with one inflorescence between each stem.         -   Growth.—Upright, vigorous growth habit. Inflorescence is             large. The plant branches easily with shoots forming at the             base of the plant. Lateral branches are similar in             appearance and form to the main stems.         -   Stems.—Lenticels are present. Lenticels are R.H.S. 86 A             (violet group) and are 1 to 2 mm long. The surface of young             stems is glabrous. Stems become woody as they age. The color             of typical young stems and young lateral branches is R.H.S.             144 A (green group). The older portions of the stems are             R.H.S. 199 B (grey-brown group) Younger portions of the             stems are 5 to 7 mm in diameter. Older portions of the stems             are 5 to 7 mm in diameter.         -   Foliage.—Abundant. Leaves are opposite on stem and lateral             branches. Shape of leaf. — Elliptic with acute base and             apex. Margins are serrate. Texture. — Glabrous; veins             dominate on the underside of the leaf and are sunken on the             upper leaf surface. Color. — Mature leaves have an upper             side that is R.H.S. 147 A (yellow-green group), and an under             side that is R.H.S. 138 B (green group). Leaves are             pinnately veined. The midvein and veins branching off the             midvein are large and prominent on the underside of the             leaves. Veins are R.H.S. 144 D (yellow-green group). Leaves             are as wide as 9 cm and 15 cm long. Petioles are smooth and             2.0 cm long and 4 mm wide. Petioles are R.H.S. 144 D             (yellow-green group). -   Buds:     -   -   Form.—Globose with 4 to 5 connate, elliptic, smooth petals.             Most buds, whether they will mature into sepalous or             non-sepalous florets, have 4 petals. Buds in the center of             the inflorescence are non-sepalous. The majority of buds             will develop into sepalous florets . They are approximately             1 mm by 1 mm when very young. Buds can be 3 mm in diameter             and still unopened. Color of buds is R.H.S. 100 C (blue             group).         -   Aspect.—Smooth.         -   Arrangement.—Borne on branched panicles. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Form.—Paniculate. Terminal. As many as 100 individual             flowers (florets) per inflorescence. Both sepalous florets             and non-sepalous florets borne on same panicle. Flowers do             not produce a fragrance. The peduncle for the inflorescence             is strong and upright. Very few non-sepalous florets             developing early on cymes that are later hidden by sepalous             florets. Florets, both sepalous and non-sepalous, have             anthers and style. Inflorescences are long-lasting, changing             color as they age.         -   Size of inflorescence.—Compact and globose. Individual             inflorescence size is dependent on the number of florets. A             typical inflorescence can grow as large as 7″ in diameter,             and 4″ high.         -   Shape.—Clusters of numerous small florets; sepalous florets             overlap one another. Sepals are persistent.         -   Appearance.—Showy. -   Florets:     -   -   General.—The non-sepalous florets at the center of the             inflorescence open first. Sepalous and non-sepalous florets             are perfect and complete. Corolla: Generally, for both             sepalous and non-sepalous florets there are 4 petals which             fall off as flower matures. Petals are typically 4 mm long             and 3 mm wide. Lenticels that are very small are present on             pedicels of both sepalous and non-sepalous florets. Pedicel             of both sepalous and non-sepalous florets are primarily 95 C             (violet-blue group) when inflorescence is ready for             commercial sale.         -   Stamens.—8 stamens. Pollen is R.H.S. 158 C (yellow-white             group). Plant produces abundant pollen. Filament is             approximately 3 mm long. Filament is R.H.S. 155 C (white             group). Anther is 1 mm long and is regular and basally             attached.         -   Stigma.—Two to three style each, although most florets have             two style. Each style has one stigma. Style is typically 1             mm long. For young inflorescences ready for commercial sale             style is R.H.S. 155 D (white group) and stigma is R.H.S. 155             D (white group).         -   Ovary.—Ovary is partially inferior.         -   Sepalous florets.—General. — Veins dominate on the underside             of the sepals. Number of sepals. — 4 or 5 sepals per floret,             usually 4. Aspect of sepals. — Smooth and glaucescent. Shape             of sepals. — Reniform with acuminate apex. Edges are entire,             but with much crenation. Size of sepals. — As the florets             mature, the sepals enlarge and overlap each other more and             more, until, often, there is no space between the sepals             when the petals of the florets open. Sepals at maturity are             typically 3.0 cm long and 4.0 cm wide. Flowers are typically             5 cm in diameter. The upper sides of the sepals are             primarily R.H.S. 94 A (violet-blue group) and 86 B (violet             group) and the under sides are primarily R.H.S. 93 D             (violet-blue group) and R.H.S. 86 C (violet group). Blue             pigmentation develops at the tips of the sepals and travels             inward towards the base of the sepals. Color of the sepalous             florets changes as the inflorescence ages. The upper sides             of older sepals are primarily R.H.S. 77 A (purple group) and             93 D (violet group), becoming R.H.S. 138 A (green group).         -   Fruit.—none.         -   Disease and pest resistance.—unknown. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Hydrangea macrophylla plant named ‘BC7.3’ substantially as herein shown and described. 